H 7071

2026 -- H 7071 SUBSTITUTE A
 ========
 LC003172/SUB A
 ========
  STATE  OF       RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
    RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND
    PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT
  Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, Bennett, Kislak, Santucci, McGaw, Carson,
  Speakman, Spears, Donovan, and Cortvriend
  Date Introduced: January 14, 2026
  Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources
 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Chapter 2-15 of the General Laws entitled "Protection of Trees and Plants
2 Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
32-15-5.1. Terrestrial invasive plants — Prohibition on importation.
4(a) No person shall import, disperse, distribute, introduce, or sell, in the state any species
5 of non-native (exotic) invasive plants, as defined by the director. The director shall promulgate
6 rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. The prohibition and its
7 enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and regulations governing the prohibition
8 and its applicability take effect.
9(b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred
10 dollars ($500).
11(c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section
12 together with a listing of all prohibited aquatic plants pursuant to § 20-1-26.
13SECTION 2. Section 20-1-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General
14 Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
1520-1-26. Freshwater invasive aquatic plants — Prohibition on importation and
16 possession.
17(a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, purchase, or
18 possess in the state any species of non-native (exotic) freshwater invasive aquatic plants, as defined
1 by the director. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and
2 its applicability. The prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and
3 regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability take effect.
4(b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred
5 dollars ($500).
6(c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section
7 together with a listing of all prohibited terrestrial plants pursuant to § 2-15-5.1.
8SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
========
LC003172/SUB A
========
  LC003172/SUB A - Page 2 of 3
  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
   RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND
   PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT
  ***
1This act would prohibit the importation, disbursement, distribution, or sale, of any species
2 of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants.
3This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
========
LC003172/SUB A
========
  LC003172/SUB A - Page 3 of 3